Summary
- The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and senior officers over alleged support for M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo.
- Rwanda says the sanctions “misrepresent reality” and unfairly target only one side in the conflict.
- Kigali insists it remains committed to the Washington peace accords but demands the DRC fulfil its own obligations.
KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda has strongly rejected sanctions imposed by the United States, accusing Washington of distorting the facts and unfairly singling out Kigali in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The sanctions, announced Monday by the US government, target the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and senior military officials over alleged backing of the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Congo.
But in a sharply worded response, Rwanda said the measures “unjustly target only one party to the peace process” and “misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict.”
Rwanda’s Position
Kigali argued that the Democratic Republic of Congo has repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements through what it described as “consistent and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives.”
According to the statement, these actions continue to cost lives and undermine peace efforts.
“Protecting our country is a badge of honour which the Rwanda Defence Force carries very proudly,” the government said.
Rwanda maintains that its security concerns stem from the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu militia linked to perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.
Kigali accuses the DRC government and its army — the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) — of working alongside foreign mercenaries, extremist ethnic militias known as Wazalendo, and the FDLR.
The Washington Accords Dispute
The sanctions follow tensions surrounding the December peace agreement brokered in Washington by US President Donald Trump, which aimed to stabilize eastern Congo and reduce cross-border hostilities.
Rwanda says the DRC committed under the so-called Washington Accords to an “irreversible and verifiable” end to state support for the FDLR and associated militias — but claims Kinshasa has not taken meaningful steps to fulfil that obligation.
“Rwanda is fully committed to disengagement of its forces in tandem with the DRC implementing their obligations,” the statement added.
Kigali also welcomed the resumption of the Joint Oversight Committee under the peace framework and called for an “even-handed approach from all partners.”
Regional Stakes
Eastern Congo has long been plagued by armed groups fighting over territory and mineral-rich land. The latest escalation has drawn international attention, with Washington accusing Rwanda’s military leadership of enabling M23 territorial gains.
The DRC government has welcomed the US sanctions, calling them a signal of support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
For Rwanda, however, the dispute reflects deeper security anxieties tied to the legacy of the 1994 genocide and cross-border militant activity.
The diplomatic clash risks complicating fragile peace efforts in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
While the US is pressing for troop withdrawals and accountability, Rwanda insists security guarantees must be reciprocal.
The question now: can the Washington peace process survive mounting distrust between Kigali and Kinshasa?
